Motor has a loud tick

[Palmer]

I've had a rather loud tick in my car since august. Its a 1.9 idi In the past 3 months I've replaced the lifters, main bearings, rod bearings, the oil pump, and the vaccuum pump. The car has had ARP headsa bolts for quite some time, but when the main bearings were replaced I had ARP main bolts installed. And still, the tick is there and just a load as ever. What else could it be, and is there anything simple I could try to fix it.

Mods are ARP bolts as mentioned above, turbo from a 1.6, turned up fuel, and 2.5" turbo back exhaust.

Someone told me to put a 1/4 litre of tranny oil in my motor oil.. I think I'll wait for vwdiesel.net's input first.

[R.O.R-2.0]

probably injector knock..

have you had your injectors serviced in the last 100 years?

[Palmer]

I just got the car in June. I've never had them serviced. Is injector knock really loud? I thought they just had a quiet little tick. Having said that, I don't think i've ever heard one knock before.

[truckinwagen]

I have had injector knock that made me think the motor was going to throw a rod at idle.

it can be VERY loud, it can also be not so loud.

injector knock, depending on its severity, can sound like lifter noise or a bottom end coming apart.

-Owen

[Vincent Waldon]

The definitive "is the injector making that noise?" test is to loosen the top fuel junction at each injector, one at a time.  If the noise goes away when you've disabled a particular injector thar she blows!

Obviously you'll want to take the usual fuel safety precautions... eye and hand protection, fire extinguisher standing by, but at idle the fuel will just dribble out and it can be a very quick way to isolate the noise as an injector issue.

[Palmer]

Oh sweet. It does sound just like my buddies car did right before he blew parts out of the back of his block. Hence the new main and rod bearings and main bolts, but those are never a bad idea.

I'll look into that next weekend.

[vanagonturbo]

With respect to what your buddy mentioned about tranny oil; he probably meant ATF. This method can work ok to free up sticky lifters. Since you have already replaced them, no need for that. also, putting ATF in the engine will require the engine to idle for about half an hour and then you have to change the oil.

I think you are being directed in the correct direction. Injectors can be pretty loud if they are out spec. Plus, it cant hurt to have them serviced. You will get more power and better economy with clean and properly popped injectors.

[Smokey Eddy]

Ditto on the injectors. Lifter knock is loud. Injector knock is irritating. You may want to check what the oil pressure is while the car is warm and idling.
Find another buddy with a loose oil pressure gauge and find the right fittings to put it in the location at the top of the cylinder head on the transmission side.
Should be a blue or grey sensor there.
Careful, as this hole can have some residual oil. Obviously do not try and swap the sensor for your test gauge with the engine running.

[Palmer]

I have been meaning to pick up an oil pressure gauge for the car, as well as an EGT gauge. I get worried about my temps sometimes.

I need to get on this and see whats up..  Even homeless people are yelling at me to put oil in my car, haha.

[Dakotakid]

I am wondering if one or more of the lifter bores in the head are not distorted in some way. This could cause a new lifter to work improperly.
Is the knock high or low (location) on the engine?

[Palmer]

Its hard to tell really. I know three of the best diesel mechanics around, and 1 said lifters, and the other two said it sounded lower and was the main bearings. Apparently it was neither. I need a stethoscope. After everything I've changed, it still sounds the exact same too.

[Thezorn]

Id just get the injectors serviced then see whare that leaves you.

[R.O.R-2.0]

x2 on the injectors..

Owner has never had them serviced, its time..

this is one of those maintenance items.. just like timing belts, and oil changes..

[smutts]

Good Luck, but mine was a horrible  loud clack clack etc. If I ever pull the head for some engine destruction pornography... I expect to find a piston eaten by a failed gudgeon pin. But an oil leak and the girlfriend (oh, I wondered what that bright red light and loud buzzer were for.......25 miles DOH!) stopped me being interested.

[Mark(The Miser)UK]

Its hard to tell really. I know three of the best diesel mechanics around, and 1 said lifters, and the other two said it sounded lower and was the main bearings. Apparently it was neither. I need a stethoscope. After everything I've changed, it still sounds the exact same too.

Are you using ARP because the head had warped previously? If the head was skimmed, it is quite possible, coupled with the extra crushing effect of the studs on the gasket, some of the valves are kissing the piston crowns. That echoes through the engine... Mine did it for 20000 miles, and no harm done